On This Day: Blondie play their first gig at CBGB

The story behind Blondie's first gig as Blondie and the venue where it all began.

Years before “Heart of Glass” and the mainstream success of their third studio album, Parallel Lines, Blondie were just another underground band pining for success in the seedy grit of 1970s New York City. While Debbie Harry and co. had already played two gigs under the name ‘Angel and the Snake’ - one of which was supporting the Ramones at CBGB - it was on this day in 1974 that Blondie officially became Blondie. The name was derived from passing cabbies and truck drivers who would catcall “Hey, blondie” to Harry as she strolled around New York. As Blondie, the group soon embedded itself into New York’s burgeoning punk scene and became regulars at Max’s Kansas City and, of course, CBGB.

Originally a dive and biker bar, CBGB opened in 1973 with a reputation for bohemian and intimate shows. Located in lower Manhattan’s Bowery district, the venue quickly became synonymous with the city’s burgeoning punk scene - ironic, since the CBGB name stands for Country, Bluegrass, and Blues, reflecting owner Hilly Kristal’s original vision for the bar. When the Mercer Arts Center - a non-profit, experimental art institution - collapsed, leaving many unsigned bands without a stage, CBGB soon became their new home. Early CBGB acts included electronic pioneers Suicide and the New York Dolls-inspired Ruby and the Rednecks.

Among the most celebrated CBGB regulars - and a band that Blondie supported in their early days - were the Ramones. The band played their first CBGB show in 1973 and went on to play there over 70 times. Famed for their uniform of bowl cuts and leather jackets and blistering three-cord wall of sound, the Ramones’ sets redefined the term “rapid-fire”, with many shows wrapping up after just 15 minutes. Other notable CBGB bands of the 1970s included Television, Misfits, The Heartbreakers, The Cramps, and Richard Hell, while The Dammed made history as the first ever British punk band to play in the States.

As New Wave swept across the city, Talking Heads emerged as pioneers of the movement and became CBGB favourites, playing at the venue 92 times between 1975 and 1977. While the band’s first show at CBGB’s was somewhat unremarkable, drawing a crowd of just 10, they soon garnered acclaim for an experimental sound that incorporated genres such as world music, art rock, funk, and punk.

By the 1980s, CBGB had become known for its hardcore punk shows. It’s Sunday matinee concatenation became an institution in itself, featuring acts like Bad Brains, Youth of Today, Beastie Boys, and Reagan Youth, playing from afternoon till evening. Unfortunately, as violence both inside and outside the club increased, Kristal suspended hardcore bookings. This marked the beginning of the end.

While CBGB retained a distinguished reputation, hosting later acts such as Green Day and Korn, a changing cultural climate and financial woes were too much to overcome. After several fundraisers - including an acoustic set by Blondie - rental disputes forced CBGB to close its doors for good in 2007.

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